Pat’s love for dogs started early, thanks to her first Border Collies, Dylan and Marina. But her journey into formal dog training truly began 19 years ago with the arrival of Rily, an exceptional Border Collie who sparked a lifelong passion for learning, connection, and canine behaviour. When Rily’s younger full brother, Tana, joined the family, he eagerly followed in his footsteps and quickly became part of the training adventures.

What began as a personal passion soon grew into something bigger. In 2014, eleven years after Rily first stepped into a training class, Pat founded Flying Paws Dog Training. Since then, Flying Paws has become the go-to destination for puppy development and behaviour training on Tasmania’s North West Coast.

Although Rily passed in early 2022 at the incredible age of 17, and Tana in late 2020 at 13, their legacy continues through the dogs who follow. Today, Zani, a bright and bold 7-year-old Border Collie, keeps a close eye on the office and proudly carries on the family tradition of training with heart.

Pat’s dedication to continuous learning and professional development is evident in her impressive qualifications:

• 2016: Qualified Puppy Class Instructor through 4 Paws K9 Dog Training
• 2017: Achieved Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training through NDTF
• 2022: Completed Deep Dive into Dog Training and Behaviour, Understanding Reactivity through Canine C.A.R.E.givers
• 2023: Certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM) through the L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation® Professional Course
• 2023: Completed Crimson Hound Professional Course on Canine Body Language
• 2024: Completed Canine Principles Course on Canine Resource Guarding

In addition to these qualifications, Pat continually pursues both in-person and online courses to stay at the forefront of dog training techniques and to better support you and your dog.

Molly’s love for dogs has been a lifelong journey, starting with her family’s beloved Golden Retriever, Mawson. In 2015, for her 21st birthday, she welcomed a Maremma puppy named Murphy into the family. Murphy joined Dudley, the family’s spirited Miniature Fox Terrier, and began his training journey at Flying Paws as a puppy. Ten years on, Murphy is now the most senior member of the Advanced Class and still going strong!

In May 2024, Murphy gained a new little brother, Fox, a Lilac Border Collie with a big personality and an even bigger love for life. Fox has slotted into the Flying Paws team with ease, becoming a familiar face in classes as our enthusiastic “demo” dog. Together, Murphy and Fox represent the heart and soul of Molly’s passion for training and connection, calm wisdom on one end of the lead, and playful energy on the other.

In 2018, Molly began assisting with classes, turning her passion into a profession. Her dedication is reflected in her impressive qualifications:

• 2016: Completed a course in Dog Emotion and Cognition through Duke University
• 2019: Qualified as a Puppy Class Instructor through Noble Canine
• 2020: Achieved certifications in Level 1 and 2 Scent Work Instructor courses through DogNostics
• 2021: Completed a Dog Nutrition and Behaviour course through the School of Canine Science
• 2022: Finished courses in Deep Dive into Dog Training and Behaviour, and Understanding Reactivity through Canine C.A.R.E.givers
• 2023: Became a certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM) through the L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation® Professional Course, completed Canine Nutrition and Health, and Canine Ethology and Enrichment certificates through Canine Principles and Completed Crimson Hound Professional Course on Canine Body Language
• 2024: Earned Canine Nutrition and Wellness Expert and Canine Resource Guarding certificates through Canine Principles
• 2025: Earned Approved Canine Reactivity Behaviour Expert and Canine Anxiety Expert certificates through Canine Principles and a certified Dog Bite Prevention Educator through DogNostics

In addition to her dog training expertise, Molly graduated from Swinburne University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing. Her ongoing commitment to learning includes both in-person and online courses to stay at the cutting edge of dog training and care.